Wexham Park Hospital is part of the Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is located in the city of Slough, just beyond the M25, west of London. The hospital has 521 beds and offers a full range of services, including a large A&E department, an angiography suite, and an 8 bed Coronary Care Unit accompanied by a 6 bed Post Coronary Care Unit, which acts as a step down unit. The hospital has excellent transport links for staff and patients due to its proximity to London, with regular rail and bus services, as well as the M40, M4, and M25 close by. Heathrow Airport is located only a 20min drive away.
We spoke with Suzanne Jordan, CIU Manager about her department.
What are the sizes of the Cardiac Investigations Unit and Hospital?
We have investigation units in Wexham and Heatherwood and provide diagnostic support to clinics at St Marks and Chalfont which are classed as satellite clinics.
What is the geographical intake area and population served by your hospital?
500,000
How many staff? Roles?
Band 8a (x1), Band 7 (x2), Band 6 (x5), Band 5 (x5), and one Band 3. Admin (x7) and secretaries (x2).
Types of studies?
ECGs, 24 hr ambulatory monitoring inc event monitoring, exercise tolerance testing, echocardiography (TTE and TOE), pacing follow-up inc complex devices. Pacing and complex device implants. We also provide diagnostic angiograms, PCI and a Primary PCI service.
Cardioversions, Radi pressure wire studies and IVUS.
Types of equipment used?
GE echo machines, Quest exercise machine, Spacelabs, Toshiba lab with Siemens reporting system.
How many studies are performed a year?
Echo (TTE) 14,700 over 3 sites
What new procedures / techniques have you implemented into the department recently?
Working towards implementing a paperless pacing clinic and providing dyssynchrony service for our patients at Wexham.
What are the benefits to patients attending your facility?
We offer a one-stop non invasive diagnostics for clinics held at Wexham, Heatherwood and St Marks. We are a friendly, professional and enthusiastic team.
What measures has the department implemented to cut costs?
To encourage multiskilling for the Cardiac Physiologists, and reducing agency spend by successfully recruiting overseas.
What kind of training can new employees expect to receive?
Training / support from Senior physiologists, courses, conferences.
What kinds of competency checks do staff have to undergo once employed?
All staff undergo mandatory training, all staff are required to be updated yearly for device training. Students are required to keep a log.
How do you deal with late finishing of cases?
Physiologists take time back in lieu. This is formally recorded.
What is the best part of working at your facility?
Friendly down to earth professional team who really do support each other to ensure that the service works.
